Quincy (MA) says a mural blending President Barack Obama with Jimi Hendrix must go. A resident complained about the mural, painted on the side of the Presidents Rock Club says it does violate the rules. Should it stay or go? The owner of the restaurant will join Phantom Gourmet LIVE at 11 a.m. on News Talk 96.9. Stream via the LISTEN LIVE Facebook tab.

>>QUINCY 
The city has ordered a Quincy Center bar to remove a mural on the side of its building that blends images of President Barack Obama and Jimi Hendrix playing guitar.
The mural was painted by a local artist last week on the outside wall of the Presidents Rock Club on Hancock Street. The bar was formerly Bad Abbots.
The mural faces an alley and is signed Brandalizm.

The bars assistant manager said the mural brings together the Presidents and Rock elements of the bars name, in the same vein as images of guitar-toting John and John Quincy Adams on the bars entrance sign.
A resident called the citys building department to complain that the mural, which also features President Obamas FORWARD campaign logo, is a political sign. Prior to a rewriting of the zoning code last year, Quincy limited the number and size of political signs.

Jay Duca, Quincys inspectional services director, said the content of the mural isnt the problem, but bar owner David Keville didnt apply for a required permit from the planning board. Duca said the owner told him that he didnt give permission for the painting and has agreed to remove it.
We anticipate it to be gone by the end of the week, Duca said. No ones taken responsibility. Thats fine, as long as the owner is stepping up to the plate and is taking care of it.
Colin Campbell, an assistant manager at Presidents Rock Club, said the mural spruced up a decrepit alleyway and added life to the area after the Bad Abbotts mural, which depicted monks making beer, was removed.
It was a building in decay and now its an awesome talking piece, Campbell said.
Campbell also said he didnt give the artist express permission to paint the mural, but wants to keep it. He plans to apply for a permit and, if denied, will start a signature petition and speak to the mayor about letting it remain.
I think its really cool, he said. Great art is something to be talked about, its something that causes you to talk about it, to think about what it is. And this is a great piece of art. It really draws peoples attention.
Duca said that while businesses are allowed to alter existing signs without permits, the mural in question is more than a sign and represents a change in message and aesthetics, which the special permit process is designed to vet.
Theres really no criteria except that its done appropriately and tastefully, Duca said of the mural requirements. I would imagine any mural that is proposed that was political in nature would not survive a special permit. I dont see that happening.

They say it’s a political sign but the Facebook page for the club has many people saying it should stay up, even some who say they aren’t for Obama.

It’s facing the outside, as opposed to being on the inside.
There’s a mural at the Chicken Bone in Framingham MA (the prez’ uncle got a DUI just outside the place; place got remodeled on “Bar Rescue”) with a bunch of American celebs (rock, politics, etc.) but that’s on the inside of the place, not the outside where it could be construed as advertising.

Accoding to Jack Cashill, noted author, there are folks that believe that Hendrix was obama’s real pappy....stanley ann was in Seattle while Jimi was home on leave from the Air Force, so the story goes.

He was fairly apolitical and served in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division.

Hippie conservative?

To understand the politics of Jimi Hendrix, one must understand the zeitgeist of his time. Free love, drugs, anti-war, communes, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, Nixons lies, and a Mary Poppins carpet bag of other paradigm-changing things were going on. Strangely, though, Jimi often said things that were counter to the ideals of the 60s counterculture.

It is widely accepted that he was a drug-using womanizer, so he lived his life based on those ideas, but he said things like:

Forget about the mass love scene. Thats not where it is. Its not building understanding. And I wish I could say this so strongly that theyd sit up in their chairs.4

He considered abortion a problem, assuming a de facto pro-life stance, saying:

I have a song on abortion and a song on Vietnam and a song on just about any problem 4

And though he was a figure in the black community, he didnt necessarily identify with his minority status, saying:

Music is stronger than politics. I feel sorry for the minorities, but I dont feel a part of one. And I think the answer lies in music.4

It might be natural to identify Hendrix with hippies, and then stretch to todays liberals. But he might have been a bit conservative in todays political climate.

Hendrix really thought music was the answer to anything and everything from religion to politics to race relations. A bit naive, perhaps, but its the honest opinion of a brilliant man who never even made it to 30 years old.

Could be construed as a political ad. It’s facing outside to the public as opposed to inside to the patrons. Imagine if Romney wins and in four years as he runs for re-election,
a mural of him with Donnie and Marie (ha) goes up...would be the same thing, in a way.

Jimi was angry? Don’t think so. Any comparison between Hendrix and Obama is very unfair to Jimi. He served in the military, loved America, hated race baiters, and actually created something new and valuable.

15
posted on 10/05/2012 7:40:12 AM PDT
by Hugin
("Most times a man'll tell you his bad intentions, if you listen and let yourself hear."---Open Range)

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